Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Art of Stashing

If it is indeed an art, well I've mastered it. Well, at least two years ago, until Disco came to visit for Stitches West and we had a heart to heart about the stash. I had mastered it. Then I began making it not an art. Or at least trying :) (Yet, I fully acknowledge that I love my stash and the yarn collection isn't going to go away, but you know, I can continue to learn how to keep it in check. I still haven't learned how to totally resist those cashmere yarns though.)

Things I've learned so far....

1) I don't need vacation yarn. Okay, sock summit. That was an exception. Yarn vacations are different. But when I first began knitting eight years ago, well, every vacation where there was a yarn store involved vacation yarn. They will tell you it doesn't count. It does.

And then 7 years after your cruise to Alaska, well, you find this in your stash. And its time to admit that well, I don't think I'm ever going to knit this (it was meant for some type of ripple scarf). Love the colors, but 55% mohair, 45% wool. I think its ~500-600 yards. Yeah, I just don't see it being knit anytime soon. Even more of a wake-up call. The price on the back, $55. Ouch.

So, to the destash it goes. $20 or best offer (US shipping included).

2. Infatuation. Flings. I certainly have gone through phases where I "love" a certain type of yarn. Must have it, and goodness, if its on sale, must stock up. (Note: Socks that Rock is NOT an infatuation. I've had that love for quite awhile and if you took all of my stash away except my STR, I would be completely happy with just that. okay. maybe I would need to keep my plucky yarns. and mama blue. that's it I think. Hmmm...maybe I should remind myself of this as I continue to destash). I'm trying to remember that not only do I not knit fast enough, but I may lose that infatuation.

Take alpaca. I loved it. I still do. Its sooooo soft. But a sweater's worth? Probably not for me. Anyone from the Knittyboards remember this alpaca listing a few years ago.... I think it was $25-30 for 10 skeins of Pure Living Organic Peruvian Alpaca, 100% superfine alpaca (50g/1.75 oz, about 90m/99yds; gauge 19-21 sts = 4" on US 7). I have two packages of 10 skeins in this color. And yes, sale yarn, another package of 10 in a natural cream.

Anyone interested? $20 per package of 10 skeins US shipping included (or both sets of tan/khaki for $35) ETA: The tan/khaki skeins are gone, but the 10 skeins of natural cream are still available.

3. Just because it is on sale, doesn't mean I need to buy it. There will always be yarn sales. There will always be yarn sales. There will always be yarn sales.

Okay, that's enough S.A. for today (Stashaholics Anonymous). Maybe next time we'll tackle the sock yarn. Any other suggestions are totally welcome :)

If you are interested in the above yarns, leave a comment (with contact info) or email me at irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com.

The only other place I go for vacation is Manila and the selection there is mostly DMC cotton floss at best. So no vacation yarn for me. Things would change when we move to Canada though. I'll need to find a house with a spare room big enough for my current and future stash.

You know how much I love destashing from you but sorry mohair and alpaca don't rock my boat.

I swear I will do my own Stashaholic Anonymous soon. I need to. Just some get a sense of reality.

Damn you posting grand things! I decided on Monday that I needed to go on a yarn diet until I get some of my stash worked through. The only exceptions to the rule are if I need to buy more yarn to finish a project or for the KnitIn. No more Plucky (for awhile). No more local yarn stores. No more chain stores. No. More. Yarn.

My mom bought me the same yarn kit on her Alaskan cruise a few years ago! I CO around 225 stitches and knit a lengthwise scarf - garter-changing yarns every row and leaving the ends as fringe. Gorgeous and warm and gets loads of compliments.Someone should grab it up at that price!

ha! i hear you. i've destashed just a few skeins of random yarns recently, and one sweater's worth of 220. i think that last year was my year of reckoning. i stopped clicking around the internets for indie yarns. mostly because i have a ton already, but also because i just can't justify more money out when i have a retirement's account worth sitting in the house.good luck with your own stashdown.

My rule is that yarn I wouldn't buy if it weren't on sale doesn't get bought. Because I know that a sale sticker will turn fug into shiny yarny goodness -- for a while. Then, it reverts back to its fugly nature. Kind of like a Cinderella thing.

Healthy attitude. Now I need to apply it to all areas of my life as well as yarn (there will always be more chocolate, yarn, purses, etc.). I did give some yarn away at SAFF as prizes, but that didn't even make a dent in the overwhelming stash. YIKES!

I haven't been on a vacation in a long, long time, but I still find a way of accumulating the yarn. Like; I'm going on a "yarn crawl" next month. Leaving my credit card at home. Really. I promised myself. No really ...